New evidence from the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) annual Ozone and UV Bulletin, published on Monday, shows that the ozone layer is on track for long-term recovery. Released in conjunction with World Ozone Day, the bulletin celebrates the impact of the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment, which helped phase out damaging ozone-depleting substances.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the importance of continued global efforts to protect the ozone layer, highlighting that the Kigali Amendment, which focuses on reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — potent climate-warming gases — plays a vital role in climate mitigation. Guterres called for further measures, noting the urgency as global temperature records continue to be broken.
The WMO forecasts that if current policies remain in place, the ozone layer could return to its 1980 levels by 2066 over Antarctica, 2045 over the Arctic, and 2040 for the rest of the world.
Matt Tully, Chair of the WMO’s Scientific Advisory Group on Ozone and Solar UV Radiation, highlighted the importance of ongoing monitoring and analysis of ozone levels through the WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme. He stressed that maintaining high-quality observations and understanding the factors affecting ozone recovery is critical to ensuring the layer’s protection.
The Ozone and UV Bulletin also revealed that while 2023’s Antarctic ozone hole showed values consistent with recent years, natural events such as volcanic eruptions and weather patterns can influence its development. The WMO notes that ongoing research is essential to fully understand these atmospheric dynamics and any unexpected changes in the ozone layer’s behavior.